SARNIA, ON — She’s Almost Famous achieved her moment in the sun with a 1:55.2 victory in the $130,000 Gold Final at Hiawatha Horse Park on Thursday.
The freshman daughter of Apaches Fame and driver Randy Waples swept out three-wide around the three-quarter mile marker and then powered home to the one and three-quarter length victory over Lady Dillinger and pacesetter Babyremembermyname.
Guelph resident Jeffrey Gillis trains She’s Almost Famous for his partners All In Stride Stable of Pickering. Thursday’s victory was the filly’s second straight and boosted her earnings to $135,278 through just four starts.
Waples also captured one of 11 Grassroots events on the Hiawatha program, guiding Dreamfair Legend to a narrow 1:55.2 victory in Race 11. The front end victory was the Rustler Hanover son’s second straight for owner-breeders John and Mary Lamers of Ingersoll and trainer Ronald MacDonald.
Western Gem and Mister Twister rounded out the field in the $15,000 contest.
Local colt Whitesand Lord and driver Reg Gassien delivered an impressive 1:53.2 victory off a front-end effort for trainer Jim Ainsworth and his partners Ross Holmes of Ilderton and William Boden of Vancouver, BC. Stabled in Ainsworth’s facility at Hiawatha, the Camluck son hit the wire a quarter length in front of favourite Cobbler Hanover while Seawind Prince was six lengths back in third.
The fastest mile of the evening was recorded by favourite Winfromheretohere and young reinsman Jody Jamieson, who halted the Hiawatha teletimer at 1:52.3, one and a quarter lengths up on HBFs Power Play and five ahead of Quiet Flight.
Michael Vanderkemp trains Grinfromeartoear son Winfromheretohere for Delegance Stable IX of Florham Park, NJ, Noel Daley of Bordentown, NJ and Sampson Street Stables of Old Forge, PA. The win was the colt’s fourth of the season.
Jamieson also made two appearances in the winner’s circle, steering another Vanderkemp trainee, In High Gear, to a 1:55 squeaker in Race 4. The Run The Table son did all the work on the front end and stayed game through the stretch to keep a head in front of Aqua Powered and Bando Skye Jay. Adam Victory and Son Stable of New York, NY own In High Gear.
Driver Kevin Wallis continued his hot streak in the Ontario Sires Stakes program with a trio of victories aboard Seeyall Later, Great Expense and Allamerican Knight.
Seeyall Later posted a 1:54.2 score for trainer Bryce Fenn and owners Janet, Vincent and Don Deni of Clarkston, MI in the first race. Fan favourite Great Expense cruised to a five length 1:54 victory in Race 3 for trainer Bill Budd and owner C And I Racing Stable of Staten Island, NY and Wallis wrapped up the evening’s festivities with a sharp 1:52.4 effort with Mark Steacy trainee Allamerican Knight. Lansdowne resident Steacy trains the Island Fantasy son for his partners David Reid of Glenburnie, Stan Klemencic of Trenton and Malcolm Man Son Hing of Nepean.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Nifty Norman in 1:54.3, Mustang Any Size in 1:55, Stonebridge Galaxy in 1:53 and Elm Grove Operative in 1:55. The colts battle in their fifth Grassroots event Sept. 21 at Kawartha Downs.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Hiawatha Horse Park next Thursday, Aug. 19 with Trillium Series action for the richly talented three-year-old trotting fillies.